Dreamless Veil : "Every Limb of the Flood"

 

This super group of sorts is getting some hype as it consists of Inter Arma vocalist Mike Paparo, the guitarist from Artificial Brain, and Dave from Psycrotic on drums. It's more blackened than Inter Arma. The reverb on the vocals and the blasting drums help with this, though the guitar which is oddly mixed back is more angular, while still melodic. There is a flow to the chaos that works well enough. Is it the most original thing I have heard? No. In fact, the second is pretty run-of-the-mill American black metal. American Black Metal feels like it only holds darkness as the obligatory aesthetic to sound cool, holding no actual allegiance to actual darkness as a spiritual force. 

The third song is more aggressive and blasting, but I am already beginning to feel bored with this. I would be more impressed if they were doing something more interesting with melody, but trying to lash out with feral spit in sonic form has been done more authentically already.  This song does find them dip into a more melodic section, but it should not be an afterthought. "Stirring of Flies "unfolds in a dissonant fashion as the guitar forms their hypnotic pulse for the vocals to scowl around. It feels like they are putting more thought into this one. "Cyanide Mine" blasted by without even me much reason to pay attention then when I went back to see what I had missed it turned out not much. 

The title track falls under a similar premise, perhaps marginally more melodic, but equally ineffective at hooking me in. For a song about suicide, I am not getting the kind of depressing vibes I need from that topic. The darker more deliberate pulse to "Glossolalia" works better for my ears. The last song Just Tremolo picks it's way through black metal tropes but it feels empty like there is no sorrow, hatred or lust for evil, its a sound for the sake of a sound, which is not what black metal is about. I will give it a 7.5, kinda bored me as it was less filling, but the executed the sounds they were going for well enough.

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Inter Arma : "New Heaven"

 If modern music critics were going to make a top 10 list of their favorite metal bands, these guys would be in the top 5. I understand why, despite not agreeing. They think out of the box. They are progressive without focusing on pretense and guitar solos. They are heavy enough to hold their own with bands heavier than them. They are always evolving and never make the same songs twice. They also do not write songs that make me want to listen to them multiple times. In fact, when thinking about this review, I am trying to remember how this record was different from their previous ones, as their previous albums are not memorable to me. 

They have always scored an 8.5 here. Which means 85 percent of the album was solid. So even on this new album I appreciate what they do and do not question their skill as songwriters what they do just does not resonate with me. Three songs into this album and I am clear what one of the reasons for this is. They are not dark enough. However, the opening track is darker and more dissonant than what I have heard from them in the past and this album has more black metal influence from the vocals and drumming than I recall hearing in the past. But it does not have the same feeling that I get when it comes from an actual black metal band like Gorgoroth or Watain. 

'Endless Gray' feels like a Metallica instrumental so it's hard to argue with that and so far the most metal moment of the album. The first song that feels dark enough to me is ironically 'Gardens in the Dark" The vocals are more sung in the post-punk baritone fashion. However, they use a similar vocal approach to "the Children the Bombs Overlooked" and it does not feel as dark, and the song itself is pretty unfocused. with the drummer overplaying. I begin to get bored with it when the vocals shift to a growl. So add sometimes bore me to the list of reasons. 

'Concrete Cliffs" is more legit death metal, than what we have heard the bulk of the album from them. The last song sounds so much like King Dude that I was Goggling to see if he did a guest spot on the album. He is not they are just ripping him off. I guess they could also be trying to sound like Johnny Cash and it came out that way. Perhaps the album's least original moment, and certainly filler on a King Dude album. I will give this one a 7, making their least impressive offering to date, though they are still thinking out of the band and it's a change for them, I am just not believing their attempts at sounding darker and the little Metallica-like instrumental ditty is the best part and that is an interlude. 

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Trillonaire :" Romulus"

 

They are not too far out of the sonic spectrum of say the more prog latter days of Mastodon. The vocals are more ambitious. They fall somewhere between Pain of Salvation and Devin Townsend. There is some belted rock grit to them. The opening track does grow on me , but is not as good as the lead single "Dead By 25" is ambitious and more compact and catchy. The vocals are a little more toned down and serve the song. This makes the chorus punch. Is the delivery still pretty dramatic and vibrato filled? Yes. There is a more rock kick to what is happening here than your average modern prog rock. 

"Underwater" is still well done. The vocals are way multi tracked across the board. This gives it a more commercial hard rock sound. This big production gives it a late 90s feel. The post grunge elements are strong. I really dig the way the vocals are spitting on " Yes, Mistress" . There is an impressive dynamic shift in how the song breaks down midway into the song. So far this is my second favorite song on the album. "Temple of Mercy" is the first song that kind of feels like filler as there is not much that stands out in the way of hooks to distinguish it from any other high energy hard rock band. 

The album begins to run lower on gas in the creative department. Yes, the lead into "One in the Chamber' we as dreamy vocal. But this feels like it falls solidly in the prog wheelhouse and takes less chances. The melody does hook me. It is not a bad song, they just raised the bar high for themselves with the first three songs. They step on the gas for "We Are the Devil" . This one is more metallic in it's intentions. It almost reminds me of Anthrax. There is a proggy calm before the storm when they close the album out with "Northern Lights" . My opinion still holds the front end of this album is strong, great even, then kind falls into your typical modern metal/ hard rock, It is however even at it's most lackluster still well done so I will give this album an 8.5 .  

Inter Arma : "Garbers Days Revisited"

They first tackle Ministry's "Scarecrow".  They take a more sludgey approach, though the song was already half way there. The biggests difference is the vocals. They are harsher here. They do not have the same effects on them that Al used. Vocally the rest of the album, should be more challenging , so if they are going to snarl there way through the songs, then I might get bored. This version is much closer to the orginal than I expected. The do used sung vocals going into " Southern Man". They are lower than Neil Young's vocal. They kick in and things get real stompy . There is a blackened nastiness to the verse when they get going. I think I like this better than the Ministry cover , due to the fact they make it more their own. The guitar tone gets kinda shitty for their cover of "Hard Times" by the Cro-mags. The drummer kills it, but that is about it.

"March of the Pigs " is next. Listening to their music I would not get that they are into industrial. They take the electronic elements. It feel more likea noise rock rampage. Trent Reznor has nothing to worry about when it gets the the 'doesn't it make you feel better..." part the vocal are kinda pitchy. They go more raging black metalih, note the ish. It is more like blackened sludge, for the Husker Du cover. Husker Du's early stuff was more punk, so this is a far treatment of it. I think I prefer "Hard Times" over this though. Given the black metal influence I am hearing on this album, perhaps more so than their original work, it is not surprising they cover Venom's "In League With Satan". There is a more punk thing to it. Sounds more like High on Fire. They do a pretty decent job with it.

They break out their proper vocal cords for the cover of " Running Down a Dream" . The vocals are lower than Tom Petty, almost a rock a billy like croon to them. This tips the scales positivly for this song.  They cose the album with the most ambitious song Prince's "Purple Rain". I know they released this first, but I did not hear it. I had the most reservations for this one as the demanding vocal. They only take it half way seriously. The guitar solos they take seriously. The vocals not so much, though he does hit a couple falsetto notes at the end. Does he nail it all the way like Prince? No but you gotta take what you get and I would have been disappointed if he did not try at all/ I will give this one an 8.5. Some of these were a little rough , but it does show a secret side to the bed.

Inter Arma : "Sulphur English "

This is one of two album I was actually looking forward to hearing from Brooklyn Vegan's most recent list of the so called metal albums hipsters are waiting on this year. It opens with a darker and more abrasive tone than what they did on their last album that saw the band going in more melodic direction, This one has a denser sludge grit against a more death metal feel. They have shed any comparisons to Neurosis and are now churning out a more aggressive for of unrelenting dark thanks to  the drumming which is more focused on  a rawer double bass attack. Many band's will say they are going to get heavier this time around, but it is happening here. There vocals shift from a death growl to a nastier snarl in the latter half of " A Waxen Sea". 

"Citadel" has a much more Morbid Angel feel . They are good at this brand of death metal but it is like the old meme that says "Always be yourself , unless you can be Batman than always be Bat man" . With a song like "Howling Lands" that is much more interesting than coping Morbid Angel, they should just be themselves. "Howling Lands" is aided by a higher more disgusted sounding snarl to the vocals , as well as sung vocals. Then things get darkly melodic, almost like Swans. Which if you know my tastes you know I am going to like this. It build from the neo-folk into something with a more sludge like heaviness, while retaining the sung vocals .The 12 minute "Atavist's Meridian" is the most sprawling song. Oddly angular grind that winds around into a mix of atmosphere and sonic density. The they are back on a more Swans like vibe with "Blood on the Lupines". I like how it is the more melodic moments of this album that are the darkest.

A steady flow of double bass returns on the title track. The vocals dip back down into a more guttural death metal growl. I can appreciate the increased intensity they are playing with, but don't think they are really bringing fresh blood to this death metal formula that could very well be Ulcerate, even with the more atmospheric touches that haunt the edges of the song. I do think this album is a success, but it is clear the more death metal direction is not where it's true strength lies. I will give it an 8.5 because it is so well done and the melodic moments really rise to the occasion. When they are aligned with their true selves this is unstoppable and when they are not , it's still well done , just misses the mark of true inspiration.

Inter Arma : " Paradise Gallows"

The third album from this Virginia band gets adventurous. "An Archer in the Emptiness" is pretty fucking heavy, but I would not go as far as to say this band really defies genres. This song is death metal. The vocals are lower and more brutal than I remember these guys being. Some of the Neurosis sludge tendencies I remember this band for begin to rise up on "Transfiguration". It does speed up into a little more blackened blend of death metal, but I don't think this band is really about bringing that brand of darkness. People who think Withered are death metal might think the same thing about these guys though. They sound much heavier when they slow down to smell the napalm.I do like how the song builds up at the end and this drummer is no joke. The drummer handles the skins for Windhand live, but he can kick up some speed. The guitarists and vocalist are from Bastard Sapling, so they are capable of bringing a more blackened flavor to the table, but I don't think that is what the bass player and drummer are really feeling. The vocals take on more of a sung tone on "Primordial Wound". There is more of a droning lumber here that might remind you of Atriarch. The problem with this being that I already own Atriarch's albums so if I want to hear them I'll listen to them. The vocalist is very versatile, so he gets props for delivering more than just one kind or growl or scream.

The singer delivers more of a Jim Morrison like croon at the beginning of "the Summer Drones" . This is the first song that grabs me as being something different. I liked the first actual song, but this one is just written with more personality. At under seven minutes this one gets to the point and doesn't try to live up to it's name and drone you to sleep, instead it hits the sweet spot where it's as heavy sonically as it is metal. "Potomac" is a well played instrumental, but it drifts into this second act of the album where things start getting post-metal on us. This leads to some bong fueled Pink Floyd like vocals on the title track. This eventually leads us back to irrefutable Neurosis worshipping. The guitar solo is the only thing that is not like Neurosis. "Violent Constellations" find them wavering in a stomping variation of blackened sludge. Things get weird midway into it as the guitarists start tinkering around. They begin to pull out weird chaotic mathy riffs.

They are really committing to the clean vocals on this album as they end with a song that is more like Nick Cave than any kind of metal. This album is very ambitious and they grew from all the chances they took with it. I'll give it an 8.5...Relapse is releasing this album July 8th.

Inter Arma : "Sky Burial"

The second full length by the Richmond based band that also shares half it's members with their side project Bastard Sapling,whose work I was more familiar with going into this one. Where Bastard Sapling managed to capture more of a Euro feel, this hits closer to the bands geography with the slow southern sludge dripping from the corners of this landscape often prone to vastness considering the Ambiant space they tend to allow the songs. A song like "Survival Fires" is allowed to float upward with the grace of Neurosis and then congeal back into the bulldozer rumble.

Well produced the vocals find themselves sitting further back into the mix, almost the same way black metal vocals are also produced and I suppose at times there might be justification to calling this blackened sludge as they hit a blast here and there, though I don't think they are this drummers forte. He is competent enough but these are are obviously the jazzier gravity variety.

The acoustic comes out sooner than I would have thought on the second song, which comes across more like an interlude or something from the Cowboy Junkies. This album does play better as a whole Peice rather than being broken up in shuffle mode, so this plays out like the intro for the third song, "The Long Road Home" which feels like a Nick Cave song from the onset, though the interplay between the keys and the guitar are also a little Pink Floyd. This is very well played and offers a broad swathe of dynamics as it fades down into the organ with a blast back into some nastiness for the last two minutes.

The drone of "Destroyer" is not unlike what a band like Yob is doing. The vocals are the Neurosis bellow on this one which are and angry chant against the pulse that makes scalding punches in places I wouldn't really call ita chorus by any means. When a song like this isn't really clicking for me I trace back to the source. So I know I like other music with droning hypnotic elements, the most obvious being one of my favorite bands Swans, who are a big influence on Neurosis, this bands most glaring influence. So what the Swans have to their relentless nature is layers of sonics and melody, where on this song those elements are flat and when the resolution comes in the last two minutes it's too little too late though I do like the soar of its initial burst. There a similar effect on the next track " sblood" though it think it works better here as the tempo is a intense drum assault, once again the building of layers upon this in a similar fashion that Neurosis takes cues from Swans on would make this a more compelling listen, instead it becomes almost a drum solo, sure it's well played but not plotted. The two minute mark seems to be a part of their formula as its once again where the transition occurs mainly the guitar goes into more of a chug and the vocals reach a shriek.

"Westward" leads off with a drone but this time is more sonic and captivating. The tempo shifts into a head knodding throb. The punches have the massive Neurosis lumber to them but they haven't done anything like this sense through sliver and blood so I'm fine with some idol worship here. I like the production of the vocals here, as they stay in an overdriven rasp as they songs makes you think it is teetering on the edge of chaos until in drops back down into a dirge march.

In closing with the title track the intro for some reason reminds me of Pink Floyd's "In the Flesh" before it falls back into a bluesy ambiance. The vocals go into the Scott Kelly impersonation of Tom Waits taking on a harsher quality as it builds. All of the guitar solos on this album are really dialed in it bears mentioning again if that point hasn't come across yet. I almost like the space blues sections better than the heavier counterpoints. I think it plays to their benefit when their beards are tipped more toward Pink Floyd than Neurosis asevenNeurosis hasn't been able to mimic Floyd so their own personality sines through like a crazy diamon rather than coming across like a Neurosis tribute band. Speaking of Neurosis tribute bands there's a Mastodon vibe when the song picks up near the final three minutes that is complete with a Mathy guitar interplay.

I think it's fair enough to give this ambitious slab an 8, as the songs are very well played and the drums and guitars shine through out. The vocals could use more melodic variance though are rescued by the production which helps make them a more interesting sonic layer when overdriven and left like a static coating which is the best bet for most harsh vocal stylings. This album sounds great and had a lot of work put into it and I think they really great moments it hits which lean back into the Pink Floyd realm of blues based psychedelics are what make it stand out from all the other bands doing this sort of thing.

Your Guide to South x Southwest

For all the plethora of bands going to be there the majority are going to be the same run of the mill limp dick inside rock Paste magazine pimps, and the few that actually rock are far and few between as you see even when the better acts do play they are clustered in the same time frames in spread out venues across the event,however some of these artists are playing multiple times through out the course of the weekend to solve some but not all of these conflicts. so I'm going to help you make the tough choice, aside for Death Grips I am just focusing on rock as while it's cool Master P is still making them say ugh, rap boils down to bad karaoke live .

Tuesday...noise is being made but none of it worth a ring of the ears so just make sure you are there by 7:45 weds for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds who are playing Stubbs, if I have to give you a description of Nick Cave just go back to huffing glue to Five Finger Death Punch and ingore the rest of this post.

Merchandise is at Viceland at 9:00 p.m and oddly booked at the same time Murder by Death is playing the next night so if you find yourself choosing between Merchandise fuzzed out effected homage to the glum eighties or Murder By Death's dark and boozy Americana punk which get thrown down at the Continental club, you might want to have proximity help you in this decision.

Pinkish Black brings there heavy murk of drone doom throb to to the six lounge at 9:30

Thurs the 14th

Pissed Jeans displays what a marriage between the Rollins band and The Jesus Lizard might sound like at the 1100 Warehouse at 9:20

Then round out the night at the dirty dog bar where Royal Thunder brings their retro blues vest rock to the stage at 10:35 and Goatwhore rips into their set at 12:40, their last album was good for what it was but a little repetitive but they would still be fun live and there's nothing else worth a half a shit going on,

Fri the 15th

Today is the Day brings their crazed punk metal to red 7 at 10:3o

Then the next Murder by Death vs Merchandise conflict arises at 11:00 Murder by Death is at the 1100 Warehouse and 11:15 is at Mohawk out door.

One thing to consider is the little outdoor stages tend to sound like shit so catching Merchandise the night before and Murder By Death this night is your smartest bet.

Destruction Unit who I just reviewed plays Hotel Vegas at 11:20 so if you need a proximity default they would be worth catching. Some of the clubs can get too packed as well so something else to keep in mind.

Sat the 16th

8:55 on the patio of Red 7 blackened sludgsters Inter Arma and five mins later Merchandise does on inside
But Pinkish Black is playing then at North Door at the same time to really boils down to who you have already caught

The north door is a good place to hang this night as the much Hyped Thrashers Mutilation Rites also plays at North door at 11:00 followed by Pallbearer at 1:00 who is bound to have better sound than they got at the earl last week.

Other points of Intrest would be A Place to Bury Strangers at Brazos Hall 12:45 and Death Grips at 11:45 at 1100 Warehouse, I got turne off by their rushed follow up to money store which was a middle finger to the major label and just not much thought invested.

If I was going to rank these acts as the must sees it would be as follows

1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
2. Pinkish Black
3. Merchandise
4. Murder by Death
5. Pallbearer
6. Inter Arma
7. Pissed Jeans
8. Destruction Unit
9. A Place to Bury Strangers
10. Royal Thunder